USA - South Carolina. Death row inmates won't be executed anytime soon

South Carolina death row inmates won't be executed anytime soon----SCDOC director 'unsuccessful in acquiring lethal injection drugs'. Bryan Stirling, director of the Department of Corrections told WYFF News 4 Investigates if an order to execute a death row inmate came tomorrow, his agency would not be able to comply. "The anti-death penalty people have been very effective in stopping drug companies from selling lethal injection drugs to states," Stirling said. "Once we tell these companies who we're with, the conversation stops." Stirling said he is deciding whether another sedative, midazolam, could be a suitable substitute for pentobarbital. Last year, midazolam was blamed for a botched execution in Oklahoma. But this summer, the drug was deemed constitutional by U.S. Supreme Court. He said until the state creates a shield law to protect the names of companies that supply these cocktails, manufacturers will be reluctant to sell them.